For Your Christmas List: Books About Nature by Thornton Burgess

Hi friends!

It hasn't even been a month, and yet, here I am.

I'm hoping to get a few of these posts in before Christmas, but we'll see how that goes.

Most of the time I am an optimist, so I'll believe that those posts are going to get written.

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking about Christmas gifts.
I've even gotten a few.
And I have my list of the things I am making for people all written out.

In my head.

It's not even December, so I am waaaay ahead, right?

Ha!

I've never been one of those, "it's August and I'm already done with my Christmas shopping!" kind of people.

I'm more like, "it's Christmas eve and I'm still wrapping presents!  Ahhhh!"

We'll see where this Christmas eve finds me.

The optimist in me says I'll be watching the Christmas pageant and playing games with my family, not hiding in the back room wrapping gifts.

In an effort to help you give less plastic stuff that will only be donated to the Goodwill in a matter of months, I thought I'd share one of my favorite gifts to give every Christmas: BOOKS!

Each Christmas, I choose a special book for each one of my children.

The book is hardcover, and is meant to be a book they will keep forever.

I like to think that by the time they have their own kids, each one will have the start of a fabulous book collection.

The books are different each year.

Sometimes they reflect the current interest of the child, or reflect the child's personality at the time.

No matter what, I chose each book especially for each child.

I like books with beautiful illustrations, or great design, and good writing.

Some are new, some are vintage, but they are always timeless sort of books, not trendy.

No biographies of Justin Beiber here!

This past weekend, I was able to spend the night away in Palm Springs, all by myself!
It was such a nice break from my regular life.
I did quite a bit of napping and reading by the pool, and a bit of thrifting too.
Usually we go to Palm Springs in the summer, when it's a million degrees and no one else is there.
The thrifting is awesome then.
It's high season now, and the thrifting is considerably less awesome.
More competition.
But I did find a few treasures: a pink, J. Crew sundress for $4, a gorgeous, vintage green coat, and some books.
When I found this one, I gasped, and said, out loud, "Ohhh, treasure!"
A lady standing next to me looked at the book in my hands, and smiled at me like I was crazy.
I am crazy.
For good books.

Do you know Thornton Burgess?
He is one of our favorite authors.
I was unfamiliar with him until James' first year of school when The Burgess Bird Book was part of our curriculum.
The next year we read the Burgess Animal Book.
My kids loved them both.

If your child is an animal lover, or if you want to learn more about birds, I cannot recommend these books enough.

Because they are told as stories, and each animal or bird is a character, there is none of the dry, textbooky, feeling that so often accompanies non fiction reading.

Yet I still consider them part of our science curriculum because they are so full of information about all sorts of birds and animals.

Also, because they are stories, they can be reread and enjoyed each time.

It's funny that I never bothered to look at other books written by Thornton Burgess simply because they weren't on my curriculum list.

Hence the gasp when I found this one, Longlegs the Heron.

I had no idea that there were so many other books written by Thornton Burgess.

And now I have a whole lot more books to look for!

Interestingly enough, the kids are taking part in some presentations with our home school group tomorrow.

Each child chose a mammal that we might see out and about on our hikes, studied it, and is presenting on it to the group.

My kids have made dioramas of their mammal's habitat, and created little posters with interesting facts about the mammal.

James chose a bear, William an otter, and Lilly a rabbit.

What are the chances I can find those 3 books by Thorton Burgess for under the Christmas tree this year?

How perfect would that be?

Looks like I am off to search the world wide web!

If you're looking for some more books to give this Christmas, here are a few of our other favorites:

every book by M. Sasek, books by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire,  books by Holling Clancy Holling, this book and others by Robert Mccloskey, The Secret Garden was a hit with all the kids and I just love it in this cover, and here are heaps of books written by Thornton Burgess.
What are some of your favorite children's books?

Happy Christmas, friends!

Love from,

Greta

Trimming the Tree

It's busy around here.

That seems to be a common tale.

Sadly it isn't the productive busy that I'd like, but more of the being out quite a bit and having a baby sick with a cold and keeping Mama up at night, kind of busy.

Still, I'm trying to remember it's not really about finding, or making, the perfect thing, but just enjoying all the simple things that make Christmas so special.

My vintage Christmas ornaments bring me a lot of cheer.

Singing "Joy to the World" with the kids every morning after we read the Christmas story, enjoying our neighbors' Christmas lights, and lots more sweet and simple Christmasy things are making our days merry and bright.
Hoping you, too, are taking a moment to slow down and enjoy the little things.
Love from,
Greta

My Favorite Christmas Cookies (in case you still feel like baking. or haven't done any yet.)

I love to bake.
Anytime, and especially at Christmas time.
Want to know how much baking I've gotten done this year?
One batch of cookies.


And I have to be honest with you, I am trying very hard not to give in to feelings of Christmas blues as I sit here. Christmas is 3 days away and there is still so much I'd like to do and I know that it just isn't going to happen.


Being gone for almost all of last week was fantastic, but not super helpful in the getting things done department.  Also not helpful: sick kids over the weekend, endless ant invasions this week, a very sick husband, endless rain, trying to keep the kids out of the house or quiet in the house so very sick husband can rest, and ending each day so exhausted that I fall asleep on the couch at 8 pm.


None of that is very conducive to getting things done.
Deep down I know that none of the things I want to get done are that big a deal.
So what if no one gets fudge?
And so what if I can't find the wrapping paper because I have no idea where Aaron stored it in the garage and he is way too sick for me to ask him about it?
So what if I never made that wreath I was going to make?  (my one Christmas craft.)
So what if I am going to sit in my living room, alone, tonight and watch Holiday Inn, not wrapping presents or being productive?


At least the tree smells good and its lights make me happy.
At least there are presents to wrap.
At least everyone is not sick at the same time. (as has happened in the past)
At least no one is throwing up. (as has happened way too much in the past)
At least I made these cookies.

I know, they don't look very special.
Partly because there has been no good light this week due to the endless rain, partly because I ran out of sanding sugar and regular sugar doesn't sparkle like sanding sugar does, and partly because these were the ugliest cookies left in the batch that the kids and I made for their swimming teacher today.
We set them aside for ourselves.


But really, even if they all looked this unimpressive, it would not matter one bit once you tasted them.
They are butter cookies.
And they melt in your mouth.


Really.  They do.
They are my favorite cookie.
They are wonderful with tea.
They are good anytime of year, but I like them at Christmas when everyone is making sugar cookies.
You think these are sugar cookies but with one bite, you are taken away with their lightness, their delicate crunch, their buttery goodness and subtle sweetness.
They are pretty much perfection.


Also, they are easy to make.
It is a quick dough to throw together--just 5 ingredients.
I am too lazy to type out the whole recipe, so I am just going to link to it.
Go here.
They are from Orangette, my favorite food blogs.


Here are a few of my notes on her recipe.
1.  Butter.  She tells you to use the best butter you can find since these are butter cookies.  The first time I made them, I used Kerrigold Irish butter found at Trader Joe's.  It is significantly more expensive than their regular butter.
I did find that the Kerrigold butter made the cookies a lovely golden color that regular butter does not give.  But I did not find a big difference in taste.
I am going to leave the butter decision up to you.
2.  Flour.  She mentions the flour making a big mess when you mix it with the butter and sugar.  I remedied this by adding the flour 1 cup at a time and mixing it just a bit between each addition.  Perhaps this adds a little extra mixing, but I promise, the cookies did not suffer.
4.  Yield.  I must not be rolling my dough thin enough because I got no where near 9 dozen cookies.  I'm not sure how many I got, but it wasn't that many.
3.  Packaging.  The cookies are extremely delicate.  If you are going to give them away, don't pack them willy nilly in a bag.  Pack them in a stack or lying next to one another in a small box.  It will be worth the extra effort.


That's it people.
If you still want to whip up a batch of cookies to give or to take to a Christmas Eve event, give these a try.  
You'll be thanked profusely.
People will praise you.
They are a dream.
Sort of like all my plans for Christmas......


I won't be back here until after Christmas as we leave tomorrow to spend Christmas with our families in our old hometown.  Unwrapped presents, sick husband and all, we're driving south and we're going to have a great time.
Just like every year.


Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
With love from,
Greta

Vintage Christmas

I like all sorts of Christmas decorations.

The woodsy, natural ones. Ornaments made out of wood and moss, fresh pine branches and red berries everywhere.

The sleek, modern ones.  Decorating the whole tree in one or two colors, everything kept minimal and well edited.

Even the Currier and Ives, old timey pictures of sleighs and snow and life a hundred years ago.

But my favorite sort of Christmas decorations are vintage.

And by vintage I mean bright colors, pinks and turquoise, reds and yellow.

No hunter green thank you very much.

Tinsely.

Glittery.

Some might even call it kitchy.

But I call it awesome.

Like my santa up there in the header.  (had to figure out a way to direct your attention to it)

I bought him at a thrift store and pushed him home in the stroller, while one and half year old James walked next to me.

I got some looks.

But he was just too cool to pass up.

My house is quite full of vintage Christmas.

It makes me happy.

Here's some of my other happy this Christmas.

The glow from my neighbor's light up plastic statues.

I don't know which is my favorite.  The candles?  Santa?  The snowman?  

Glittery paper houses and bottle brush trees in beautiful, oranges, pinks and turquoise.

I am strangely drawn to flocked trees.
Haven't you secretly always wanted one?

But my favorite tree?
The aluminum ones.
I never thought I'd be able to forgo the traditional tree and that smell of Christmas it brings into the house.
But these trees--they are wooing me.

I don't know how much longer I can hold out.

I'm hoping I can be back tomorrow for a post on a craft boutique I went to last Saturday.  It was held in the home of that beautiful silver tree and I got some great pictures.

Inspriration just when I needed it.

We'll see how I'm feeling.

Until then, enjoy whatever Christmas decorations are making you happy.

I'm off to look at my vintage santa mugs.

Love from,

Greta

Money Matters and the Christmas Pajamas

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants."

Esther De Waal

Aaron and I have always been a 1 income family. We knew from the start that one day we'd have children and we wanted to prepare for only 1 member of the family working outside the home. So while I finished my credential and my student teaching, Aaron worked. Then while he finished his illustration degree and started the MFA program, I taught school. When I was pregnant with James, it was a toss up as to who would stay home, but Aaron's freelance job turned into full time, so I got to become the stay at home mom I always wanted to be.

Despite that well thought out financial plan, we haven't been the most financially savvy in other areas of our life. We probably could have saved more and made wiser choices, not taken a 5 week trip to Europe, bought a cheaper car.

Still, my husband is a champ at socking away money. He excels at budgeting and money management. He really likes to save money.

I'm going to be honest with you. I do not. I like buying what I want when I want it instead of waiting to see how much we can afford at the end of the month. I like little extravagances like fresh flowers and going out for coffee. Who doesn't like those things?

Oh, I'm not the worst. I don't order things and have UPS delver them to my neighbors so my husband doesn't know about it. I don't use the grocery money to buy American Express gift cards and then go clothes shopping with them. But I do see a good sale and think, "well, this is a great deal. I'll just put it on the card and we'll pay it next month. What's $30?" Or something to that effect.

But this year we bought a house. And we still have a lot of fixing to do. And the economy is pretty bad. We'd like to put more money in our savings account. We're going to have 4 kids! We really need to stick to that budget. I really need to.

So December became the month of reckoning. If you are going to prove you can stick to the budget, December is the month to do it in, right? We always come away with a credit card bill after Christmas. And Aaron has a healthy dislike, OK passionate hatred, for credit card debt. The goal: stick to the cash only system, no "emergency" atm or credit card purchases.

It was hard. Not because there wasn't enough money, but because I had to prioritize how I spent it. I couldn't buy everything I wanted and justify it because, "it's Christmas." I had to make do, and be creative and stretch those dollars. And for a little while, I hated it.

Things really came to a head the day I realized that buying the kids new Christmas pajamas wasn't going to be in the cards this year. "What?" you ask. "How expensive can kids pjs be?"

Let me explain. I might be shopping at the wrong places, but pjs from Gap Kids are at usually around $20. It is hard to find them on sale in sizes that are not huge or tiny. Well, $20 times 3 is $60. That seems like an awful lot to spend on kids pajamas.

Old Navy isn't much better and even at Target I was looking at $15 a pair. And they weren't even that cute! I did find pairs for around $10 at K Mart, but they were ugly and not soft, and I'd rather the kids have none at all. I should have planned ahead and bought them on sale last Christmas.

The thing was, I had Christmas pajamas from last year for Lilly and William. They were both a little big last year, so they'd fit just right this year. That would leave only James. He really did need pajamas because he was down to 2 pairs.

But I didn't want to reuse last year's pajamas. I wanted new ones. Like I get them every year. Cause it's Christmas. I didn't want to save. I didn't want to be thrifty.

I just wanted to buy my kids new Christmas pajamas, dang it!

So there I was, battling it out with myself in the kitchen. I was mad. It didn't seem fair that I couldn't get what I wanted. I know, I was being selfish and juvenile. It's embarrassing to admit, but I am aiming for truth here, and reality.

That was when I realized the truth about those pajamas. They didn't matter one bit. My kids didn't care if they got new pajamas. It was about me. It was about my attitude. There are people who can hardly put food on their tables and I am complaining about some stupid pajamas? I was so ashamed.

It is so easy to become discontent with all the luxuries we have in our lives. Our homes, our closet full of clothes, cars, dishes that are just for decoration, lots and lots of shoes, not just 1 pair, and the list could go on forever, right? We don't even see them as luxuries, but as things we are entitled to. We eat out, we rent movies, we buy music. Even if we only do those things once a month, we are doing them more than so many others ever do. When I was in India, the 3 teenage girls we stayed with had never been to a restaurant. Never. They were 16, 17 and 18. We took them out for my birthday and it was the grandest celebration they'd ever experienced.

I knew that truly sticking to the budget meant making sacrifices. If I wanted to do everything on my list for December, then some other things had to give. I had to let go. And the very moment I did, those pajamas didn't matter anymore at all.

Maybe you're reading this and you can't believe I would make so much out of something so small. But I think we all have something akin to the Christmas pajamas in our lives. It is really a matter of being content with what you have. Just like the quote at the opening of this post says.

I am sharing this with you because I hope to grow in this area of my life this year. I hope to find more joy in delayed gratification, saving up, planning ahead and stretching my dollar. It's funny that these are things I think are so important to teach my kids and yet I still have not mastered them myself. Over the course of this year, I will share some of these money matters with you--the highs and lows, the real truth.

And I know I can do it because of this promise, one of my other favorite thoughts on being content:

"I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Phillippians 4:11-13

By the way, here are the kids in their Christmas pajamas. They seem perfectly happy, don't you think?

I'm learning, oh yes I am.

Yippee!

Happy Christmas!

Joy to the world

The Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart

prepare Him room,

and heaven and nature sing

and heaven and nature sing

and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!

May your Christmas be filled with joy!
Wishing you a Happy and Merry Christmas,
See you next year, friends.
Greta

Christmas Moments

Christmas time is so filled with big events. It's busy. it's hectic. There are parades and parties and shopping and baking. It is all a lot of fun. And sometimes a bit tiring.

But my favorite moments of the season are just the simple, quiet moments that fill my heart with joy and peace.

Like the moment the Christmas lights are lit for the first time.

They might not even be on the tree yet.

But it is still magic.

They're beautiful.

They make me happy.

What are your favorite Christmas moments?

Greta's Gift Guide: Patchwork Long Beach Part 2

So I've been gone for a bit. It feels like ages since I've been here. I did manage to get in one post over at Lilly and the Brothers, but let me tell you, late night holiday frivolity and sick kids do not mesh well with blogging. Especially the sick kids. In fact, just now, as I begin to write at 11:59 pm, a child somewhere in our home begins to cry. Thankfully my husband went to him and let me stay here. This mama needs a little break.

And what better to tonic for my weariness than these great gifts from the indie arts and craft fair, Patchwork Long Beach. I know, it happened ages ago. But you know that you still have shopping to do, and so...here are a few more of my favorites.

First, check out these belt buckles from Domestic Nest.

Do you see the pink one? Do you? I was in love instantly. I love a good belt. And I have been longing for a big ol buckle like this for a long time, but I have never seen one this cute. The one with stars is pretty awesome, too.

She also has these pendants. They are sweet, simple, modern and rustic. Really, could you ask for anything more? The pendants are made from leather, too.

Please go visit the Domestic Nest Etsy shop here. They also have a blog, here. (They are having a giveaway right now--a leather coffee cup cuff and a $10 Starbucks gift card. Go visit!) I'll be visiting the shop soon myself. I'm saving my pennies for one of those buckles.

Next up are some things by Random Nicole. I loved her wall hangings. Birds, fabric, witty sayings, mention of hammocks--I'm in love.

I also loved these mobiles. I love that they are fabric and totally unique. They are actually sold as kits so you can make these babies yourself.

Random Nicole also had great bags and clothes. You can see those things at her shop here.

She is also part of a very, very cool place I have just discovered. If you are closer to the OC than LA and you want to take some great crafting classes, please check out The Craft Kitchen here. It looks amazing.

Jenny and Jimbob are the creators of these great little necklaces and the fabulous matchboxes they come in. There were so many choices, but I am pretty partial to the # 3 myself. They sold out of the # 5, or I would have gotten it. I like 5 right now.

There were a lot more than numbers, though. I like that bike a lot. Ginger, my sailor friend, really liked that anchor.

You can find these and many, many more on Jenny and Jimbob's website, right here. You are sure to find something perfect for your neck, or the neck of someone you love.

Next I found rebe. I liked so many of her clothes, but this jacket was at the top of my list.

It is all the details that make it spectacular. The tie rather than buttons. That it ties on the side, up high, more interesting and flattering. I like how the fabric on the hood and the tie match and add a bit of color to the jacket. I like how it is way, way cuter than a sweatshirt but could be worn just as easily. Oh, my wish list just keeps growing.

You can find this jacket, some great dresses, and much more right here at rebe's shop.

Last, but not least, one of my most favorite shops around, Rock Scissor Paper.

I have been a fan of Rock Scissor Paper for at least 7 years. Maybe 8? The great thing about them is that they just keep getting better and better. Their stationary is amazing. I am a HUGE stationary fan. I have been since little girlhood. The stationary store in downtown Fallbrook was one of my favorite haunts.

But this is about RSP.

While I am still madly in love with their cards and other stationary products, they have so much more. Check it out.

Can I just get this whole mug collection?

Or these owl pillows for the kids' room, and my room and the living room....

And these bags...

What I love most about Rock Scissor Paper is their cheerful colors, their bold and simple graphics and their message: Be Happy, Smile.

When I look at their stuff, I do.

Please visit their online store here, and their blog here. Look at the owl in the wreath on the blog. You will swoon. So amazing.

Oh, and check back here Friday to see what I made with some awesome Christmas coasters I bought from them. (Well, as long as these sick kids don't keep me tied to the bathroom, the Kleenex box and the washing machine.)

I hear there is going to be another Patchwork Long Beach in the spring. I'll keep you posted. And when it comes, go, go, go!!! Tell your friends.

Until then, remember, don't go to the mall, buy your gifts from these peeps. They are doing what they love so show some love back.

Merry Christmas friends. It's good to be back. Hoping to be here tomorrow too.

But maybe not cause now another baby is awake. It is 1:36 am. Oh bother!

Greta

Getting Ready for Christmas...

We have been thoroughly enjoying this long, holiday weekend.

Still eating leftovers. There is turkey stock simmering on the stove right now. It will be turkey stew by evening. And maybe I'll make Scott Peacock's biscuits to go with it.

Cause we just haven't had enough butter this weekend.

We're watching our little corner of the world get ready for Christmas. Our favorite, floating Christmas trees were lit the night after Thanksgiving. I appreciate that they wait until then.

Many of our neighbors are decorating their houses. The kids think our house should be the most Christmasy house on the block, so we'll see where that leads us.

We showed the kids White Christmas for the first time and it warms my heart that they loved it as much as I do.

We're listening to Christmas music. Specifically Johnny Mathis, James Taylor and Charlie Brown.

I have a pile of Christmas project ideas sitting in my to do file.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

But I still have a few days worth of post Thanksgiving posts, so check back here tomorrow.

And then get ready for some full fledged Christmas magic!